CN118019939A - Valve with remelting expansion port - Google Patents
Valve with remelting expansion port Download PDFInfo
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- CN118019939A CN118019939A CN202280065429.1A CN202280065429A CN118019939A CN 118019939 A CN118019939 A CN 118019939A CN 202280065429 A CN202280065429 A CN 202280065429A CN 118019939 A CN118019939 A CN 118019939A
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- Prior art keywords
- valve
- expansion
- liquid
- gas
- process liquid
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Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 140
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 118
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 43
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000010257 thawing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 37
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 7
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000000739 chaotic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- ZSLUVFAKFWKJRC-IGMARMGPSA-N 232Th Chemical compound [232Th] ZSLUVFAKFWKJRC-IGMARMGPSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052776 Thorium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000003841 chloride salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000008094 contradictory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K49/00—Means in or on valves for heating or cooling
- F16K49/005—Circulation means for a separate heat transfer fluid
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K49/00—Means in or on valves for heating or cooling
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
- F16K1/32—Details
- F16K1/52—Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K37/00—Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
- F16K37/0025—Electrical or magnetic means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K41/00—Spindle sealings
- F16K41/02—Spindle sealings with stuffing-box ; Sealing rings
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K41/00—Spindle sealings
- F16K41/10—Spindle sealings with diaphragm, e.g. shaped as bellows or tube
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Details Of Valves (AREA)
- Temperature-Responsive Valves (AREA)
- Safety Valves (AREA)
Abstract
A valve for controlling molten liquid includes an expansion port in liquid communication with an interior volume of the valve filled with molten liquid. The expansion valve may be opened during thawing of the valve to allow the molten process material to expand from the interior volume into the expansion line upon melting. During initialization of the valve, an inert gas source, a pressure regulator, and an ultrasonic conversion level sensor may be used to establish a liquid/gas interface at a desired height within the expansion line. The valve may include a multi-zone heater wherein a first of the zones is adjacent the expansion port such that, during thawing, after the first zone has melted, the remaining zones can be sequentially activated in an order that ensures that each zone is activated only after the adjacent zone has melted.
Description
The inventors:
Luo Jeffli Paris
Michael. P. Nalson
Statement of government interest
Portions of the present invention have been made in connection with government funding in accordance with contract number DE-NA0003525 and the government may have certain rights.
Cross Reference to Related Applications
The present application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/485,676, filed on 9/27 of 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to valves, and more particularly to valves for controlling the flow of molten liquid that is solid at ambient temperature.
Background
Some process valves are required to control the flow of hot molten process liquid that is solid at room temperature. In many cases, the molten process liquid reduces in volume as it cools and solidifies, and expands again as the process mass remelts. Molten chloride salts are examples of such materials and are becoming increasingly important in processes of several industries, including Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) industry and thorium-based nuclear power industry.
When the molten process liquid cools and solidifies, i.e. "freezes" within the valve, for example during chaotic conditions, freeze recovery may be difficult if the process substance expands as it melts, as the remelting process substance may not find space within the valve for the desired expansion when the valve is heated, especially if the material remains solid at the inlet and outlet of the valve as it melts within the valve. As a result, the valve may be structurally damaged by the expanding, remelted liquid, thereby rendering the valve inoperable. This risk is exacerbated if the valve design includes a large internal volume that is typically filled with molten process liquid.
For critical valve applications, even a minimum amount of external valve leakage is unacceptable, and bellows seal valves are typically used. In the case of molten process liquid, the thawing process can be particularly dangerous for the bellows valve due to the large internal volume (inside or outside the bellows) that tends to fill with the process liquid and due to the inherent brittleness of the bellows.
Referring to the cross-sectional view of fig. 1, the bellows seal valve includes an accordion-like bellows 100. One end 102 of the bellows 100 is welded or otherwise attached to a valve stem 104. The other end 106 of the bellows 100 is welded to a component 108 that is clamped or otherwise attached to a valve cover 109. When the valve is operated, the valve stem 104 moves in a linear valve stroke, thereby controlling the position of the valve plug 110 relative to the valve seat 112. During a valve stroke, bellows 100 compresses or expands with linear movement of spool stem 104.
Since the bellows 100 has a static seal at each end 102, 106 and the circumference of the valve stem 104 is covered by the bellows 100, a metal barrier is provided between the process liquid inside the valve and the outside atmosphere, thereby eliminating leakage at the valve stem 104. In the example of fig. 1, the process liquid is outside of the bellows 100, while the atmosphere is inside of the bellows 100. For other bellows valves, the process liquid is inside the bellows 100 and the atmosphere is outside the bellows 100. The bellows valve (or other molten liquid valve) may further include a heater 116 that is controlled by a thermal controller 118 that may be used to defrost the valve when needed.
Inherent in the design of a bellows valve is the presence of a large internal volume that is typically filled with process liquid. In particular, the process liquid typically contacts the inner or outer surface of the bellows 100 along the entire length of the bellows 100. Because the metal bellows 100 flexes as the valve stem 104 moves, it must be somewhat fragile and easily damaged by expanding, thawing process materials.
What is needed, therefore, is a valve design that is configured to accommodate expansion of normally melted process liquid as it remelts after freezing within the valve.
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention includes a valve design configured to accommodate expansion of normally melted process liquid as it remelts after freezing within the valve. In an embodiment, the valve is a bellows valve. Embodiments of the present invention also include expansion control systems and methods for safely thawing the disclosed valves.
According to the invention, the valve design comprises a process liquid expansion port, which enables liquid communication between the expansion line and the internal process liquid volume of the valve, which is typically filled with process liquid. During normal operation of the valve, the process liquid is prevented from flowing out through the expansion port by closing an expansion valve provided in the expansion line. During thawing of the process substance, for example when recovering from a chaotic condition, the expansion valve is temporarily opened so that an expansion path is provided to the melted process substance.
In an embodiment, the expansion control system further comprises a source of inert gas (such as nitrogen) and a pressure regulator capable of controlling the pressure of the inert gas in the expansion line. According to the disclosed method, when the valve is first put into use and molten process liquid begins to flow into the expansion line, inert gas is used to pressurize the expansion line so that process liquid is prevented from reaching the expansion valve.
In some of these embodiments, the adjustment of the inert gas pressure is continued during operation of the valve. In other embodiments, once the appropriate inert gas pressure is established within the expansion line, the expansion valve is closed so that a fixed amount of inert gas remains in contact with the process liquid and a liquid/gas boundary is established within the expansion line. If the process liquid expands or contracts during normal operation, for example due to temperature fluctuations of the process liquid, this is accommodated by a shift of the liquid/gas boundary within the expansion line.
Embodiments also include a liquid-gas conversion sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) that is capable of detecting the level of a liquid/gas boundary within the expansion line and adjusting the pressure of the inert gas to adjust the liquid/gas boundary to a desired location within the expansion line.
In an embodiment, the valve further comprises a heater configured to heat the valve to maintain the process substance within the valve as liquid during normal operation (if necessary) and to re-melt the process substance if necessary to defrost the valve. In some of these embodiments, the heater is divided into a plurality of individually controlled heating zones configured to heat corresponding portions of the internal process liquid volume of the valve. According to a method embodiment of the invention, the heated region extending to the expansion port is first heated and then, after the process substance close to the expansion port has melted, adjacent regions are sequentially heated, so that in each case the process substance is able to expand when it melts into the adjacent, already melted regions. Damage to the valve and excessive stress during remelting of the process material within the valve is thus avoided.
Much of the following discussion is directed to exemplary embodiments in which the valve is a bellows valve, and in which the process liquid within the valve is in contact with the outside of the bellows. However, those skilled in the art will be readily able to adapt the principles of the present invention to virtually any type of process valve that controls molten process liquid, including a bellows valve in which the process liquid occupies the interior of the bellows, and also including valves that are not bellows valves.
A first general aspect of the present invention is a valve system configured for controlling the flow of molten process liquid. The valve system includes: a valve, the valve having: an internal process liquid volume, an expansion port, an expansion line, and an expansion valve; the internal process liquid volume is typically filled with process liquid during operation of the valve; the expansion port being disposed in the valve, the expansion port being in fluid communication with the internal process liquid volume; the expansion line is in fluid communication with the expansion port; the expansion valve is operable to permit or prevent fluid flow through the expansion line.
Embodiments also include an expansion volume into which process liquid can flow from the expansion line when the expansion valve is open.
Any of the above embodiments may further comprise a pressurized inert gas source in gaseous communication with the expansion line. Some of these embodiments further include a pressure regulator configured to regulate the pressure of the inert gas within the expansion line. In some of these embodiments, the expansion line includes a liquid/gas conversion sensor capable of detecting a liquid/gas interface level within an interface region of the expansion line. In some of these embodiments, the liquid/gas conversion sensor is an ultrasonic sensor. And any of the embodiments may further comprise a gas controller configured to control the pressure regulator to adjust the height of the liquid-gas interface level within the interface region in accordance with interface data provided to the gas controller by the liquid/gas conversion sensor.
Any of the above embodiments may further comprise a pressure sensor included in the expansion line and configured to measure a pressure of the inert gas within the expansion line.
Any of the above embodiments may further comprise a temperature sensor included in the expansion line and configured to measure a temperature of the inert gas in the expansion line.
Any of the above embodiments may further comprise a gas heater configured to heat the inert gas within the expansion line.
Any of the above embodiments may further comprise a vent configured to vent inert gas from the expansion line.
Any of the above embodiments may further include: comprising a valve heater controlled by a thermal controller. In some of these embodiments, the heater is divided into a plurality of heating zones, which may be individually controlled by the thermal controller, a first one of the heating zones being proximate to the expansion port.
A second general aspect of the invention is a method of initializing flow of molten process liquid through a valve. The method comprises the following steps:
a) Providing a valve system according to the first general aspect;
b) Opening the expansion valve;
C) Filling the internal process liquid volume with a pressurized inert gas;
d) Introducing a molten process liquid into the valve; and
E) The pressure regulator is controlled such that the molten process liquid fills the internal process liquid volume, displaces the inert gas in the internal process liquid volume, and enters the expansion line such that a liquid/gas interface is formed between the molten process liquid and the inert gas within the expansion line.
In an embodiment, the valve system further comprises a gas heater, and the method further comprises heating the inert gas before performing step B).
Any of the above embodiments may further comprise closing the expansion valve after step E).
In any of the above embodiments, the valve system may further comprise a liquid/gas conversion sensor, and wherein step E) comprises monitoring the height of the liquid/gas interface within the expansion line using the liquid/gas conversion sensor. In some of these embodiments, the method further comprises, after step E), controlling a pressure regulator to maintain the liquid/gas interface within a specified height range within the expansion line.
A third general aspect of the invention is a method of a defreezing valve configured to control the flow of molten process liquid after the process liquid cools and solidifies into a solid process mass within the valve. The method comprises the following steps:
A) Providing a valve according to the second general aspect;
b) Opening the expansion valve;
c) Activating the first heating zone until substantially all of the process material in the first heating zone has melted;
D) Activating a next one of the heating zones adjacent to the first heating zone until substantially all of the process material in the next heating zone has melted;
E) If the plurality of heating zones includes more than two heating zones, repeating step D) until all of the process material within the valve has melted, wherein each of the heating zones is activated only after the process material in the adjacent heating zone has melted; and
F) The flow of molten process liquid through the valve is reestablished.
In an embodiment, the valve system further comprises a gas heater, and prior to performing step B), the method further comprises heating an inert gas and introducing the heated inert gas into the expansion line until any process material within the expansion line has melted.
These features and advantages described herein are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate the scope of the inventive subject matter.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view drawn to scale of a prior art bellows valve;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention drawn to scale;
FIG. 3 is a close-up cross-sectional view of a portion of the valve of FIG. 2, shown connected to an expansion control system, the valve being drawn to scale;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for implementing the disclosed valve in an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a valve in an embodiment of the invention, wherein the valve includes a plurality of independently controlled heating zones; and
FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of thawing the valve of FIG. 5, which is drawn to scale, in one embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description
The present invention includes a valve design configured to accommodate expansion of normally melted process liquid as it remelts after freezing within the valve. In an embodiment, the valve is a bellows valve. Embodiments of the present invention also include expansion control systems and methods for safely thawing the disclosed valves.
Referring to fig. 2, in accordance with the present invention, the valve design includes a process liquid expansion port 200 that enables liquid communication between an expansion line 204 and an internal process liquid volume 202 of the valve that is typically filled with process liquid. During normal operation of the valve, process liquid is prevented from flowing out through the expansion port 200 by closing the expansion valve 206. During thawing of the process substance, for example when recovering from a chaotic condition, the expansion valve 206 is temporarily opened so that an expansion volume is provided to the melted process substance. In the embodiment of fig. 2, the expansion valve 206 is capable of allowing contact with molten process liquid and delivering newly melted process liquid to the expansion volume 208.
Referring to fig. 3, in an embodiment, the expansion control system further includes a source 300 of inert gas (such as nitrogen) and a pressure regulator 302 capable of controlling the pressure of the inert gas in the expansion line 204. In the embodiment of fig. 3, expansion line 204 also includes a gas heater 304 and a gas vent 306, as well as a temperature sensor 308 and a pressure sensor 310.
Referring to fig. 4, in a method embodiment of the present invention, before molten process liquid is introduced into the valve, an inert gas is heated 400 and the expansion valve is opened 402 such that the process liquid volume 202 in the expansion line 204 and the interior of the valve is pressurized 404 with the heated inert gas. The molten process liquid is then introduced 406 into the valve while the pressure of the inert gas is adjusted so that the process liquid fills the process liquid volume 202 within the valve and into the expansion line 204, where the process liquid forms a liquid/gas interface (500 in fig. 5). Embodiments also include a liquid/gas conversion sensor (502 in fig. 5, such as an ultrasonic sensor) that is capable of detecting the level of the liquid/gas boundary 500 within the expansion line 204. In some of these embodiments, the pressure of the inert gas is adjusted 408 to adjust the liquid/gas boundary 500 to a desired liquid level 500 within the expansion line 204.
In some of these embodiments, the adjustment 408 of the inert gas pressure is continued 410 during operation of the valve. In other embodiments, once the appropriate inert gas pressure is established within expansion line 204, expansion valve 206 is closed 410 so that a fixed amount of inert gas remains in contact with the process liquid. If the process liquid expands or contracts during normal operation, for example due to temperature fluctuations of the process liquid, this is accommodated by displacement of the liquid/gas boundary 500 within the expansion line 204.
Referring to fig. 5, in some embodiments, the heater 116 is divided into a plurality of heating zones 504-514 configured to heat corresponding portions of the valve's internal process liquid volume 202. The heating zones 504-514 are each controlled by a thermal controller 516.
Referring to fig. 6, in accordance with some method embodiments of the present invention, the process of thawing the valve begins by opening 600 the expansion valve 206 and heating 602 a first heated region 504 adjacent to the expansion port 200. In an embodiment, prior to heating 602 the first heating zone 504, the inert gas is heated using the gas heater 304 and then the heated inert gas is used to melt any process liquid that may have frozen within the expansion line 204.
Once the process substance has melted 602 within the first heated region 504, a second heated region 506 adjacent to the first heated region is heated 604 until the process substance within the second heated region 506 has melted. The process continues 606 whereby adjacent heating zones are sequentially heated so that in each case the process substance being melted can expand into adjacent already melted heating zones. Damage to the valve and excessive stress during remelting of the process material within the valve is thus avoided. Finally, flow of molten process liquid is reestablished 608 within the valve.
Many of the figures and corresponding descriptions presented herein relate to exemplary embodiments wherein the valve is a bellows valve, and wherein the process liquid within the valve is in contact with the outside of the bellows. However, those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that the scope of the present invention is not limited to these exemplary cases, but extends to nearly any type of process valve that controls molten process liquid, including a bellows valve in which the process liquid occupies the interior of the bellows, and also including valves that are not bellows valves.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the application has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each page of this filing and all matters thereon, whether characterized, labeled, or numbered, regardless of their form or location in the application are considered to be essential parts of the application for all purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the application to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure.
While the application has been illustrated in a limited number of forms, the scope of the application is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications. The disclosure presented herein does not explicitly disclose all possible combinations of features falling within the scope of the application. Features disclosed herein for the various embodiments may generally be interchanged and combined into any combination that is not contradictory without departing from the scope of the application. In particular, the limitations set forth in the following dependent claims may be combined with their corresponding independent claims in any number and in any order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure unless the dependent claims are logically incompatible with each other.
Claims (20)
1. A valve system configured for controlling flow of a molten process liquid, the valve system comprising:
A valve having an internal process liquid volume that is typically filled with process liquid during operation of the valve;
An expansion port disposed in the valve, the expansion port in fluid communication with the internal process liquid volume;
an expansion line in fluid communication with the expansion port; and
An expansion valve operable to permit or prevent fluid flow through the expansion line.
2. The valve system of claim 1, further comprising an expansion volume into which the process liquid can flow from the expansion line when the expansion valve is open.
3. The valve system of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a source of pressurized inert gas in gaseous communication with the expansion line.
4. The valve system of claim 3, further comprising a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of an inert gas within the expansion line.
5. The valve system of claim 4, wherein the expansion line includes a liquid/gas conversion sensor configured to detect a liquid/gas interface level within an interface region of the expansion line.
6. The valve system of claim 5, wherein the liquid/gas conversion sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.
7. The valve system of claim 5 or claim 6, further comprising a gas controller configured to control the pressure regulator to adjust the height of the liquid/gas interface level within the interface region in accordance with interface data provided to the gas controller by the liquid/gas conversion sensor.
8. The valve system of any of claims 3-7, further comprising a pressure sensor included in the expansion line and configured to measure a pressure of the inert gas in the expansion line.
9. The valve system of any of claims 3-8, further comprising a temperature sensor included in the expansion line and configured to measure a temperature of the inert gas within the expansion line.
10. The valve system of any of claims 3-9, further comprising a gas heater configured to heat the inert gas within the expansion line.
11. The valve system of any of claims 3-10, further comprising a vent configured to vent the inert gas from the expansion line.
12. A valve system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a valve heater controlled by a thermal controller.
13. The valve system of claim 12, wherein the heater is divided into a plurality of heating zones, the plurality of heating zones being individually controllable by the thermal controller, a first heating zone of the heating zones being proximate the expansion port.
14. A method of initializing flow of a molten process liquid through a valve, the method comprising:
a) Providing a valve system according to claim 4;
b) Opening the expansion valve;
c) Filling the internal process liquid volume with a pressurized inert gas;
D) Introducing the molten process liquid into the valve; and
E) The pressure regulator is controlled such that the molten process liquid fills the internal process liquid volume, displaces the inert gas within the internal process liquid volume, and enters the expansion line such that a liquid/gas interface is formed between the molten process liquid and the inert gas within the expansion line.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the valve system further comprises a gas heater, and wherein the method further comprises heating the inert gas prior to performing step B).
16. The method of claim 14 or claim 15, further comprising, after step E), closing the expansion valve.
17. The method of any of claims 14-16, wherein the valve system further comprises a liquid/gas conversion sensor, and wherein step E) comprises using the liquid/gas conversion sensor to monitor the height of the liquid/gas interface within the expansion line.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after step E), controlling the pressure regulator to maintain the liquid/gas interface within a specified height range within the expansion line.
19. A method of thawing a valve configured to control flow of molten process liquid after the process liquid cools and solidifies into a solid process substance within the valve, the method comprising:
a) Providing a valve according to claim 13;
b) Opening the expansion valve;
c) Activating the first heating zone until substantially all of the process material in the first heating zone has melted;
D) Activating a next one of said heating zones adjacent said first heating zone until substantially all of the process material in said next heating zone has melted;
E) If the plurality of heating zones includes more than two heating zones, repeating step D) until all of the process material within the valve has melted, wherein each of the heating zones is activated only after the process material in an adjacent heating zone has melted; and
F) Reestablishing flow of the molten process liquid through the valve.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the valve system further comprises a gas heater, and wherein the method further comprises, prior to performing step B), heating an inert gas and introducing the heated inert gas into the expansion line until any process material within the expansion line has melted.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US17/485,676 | 2021-09-27 | ||
| US17/485,676 US11692645B2 (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2021-09-27 | Valve with re-melting expansion port |
| PCT/US2022/043352 WO2023048993A1 (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2022-09-13 | Valve with re-melting expansion port |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN118019939A true CN118019939A (en) | 2024-05-10 |
Family
ID=85718255
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202280065429.1A Pending CN118019939A (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2022-09-13 | Valve with remelting expansion port |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US11692645B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR20240042216A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN118019939A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2022352577A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA3232477A1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL311832A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2023048993A1 (en) |
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| US2209296A (en) * | 1938-12-08 | 1940-07-23 | Gasoline Prod Co Inc | Valve construction |
| US2254472A (en) * | 1939-04-28 | 1941-09-02 | Mason Neilan Regulator Company | Combination control and quench valve |
| US3110319A (en) | 1962-01-15 | 1963-11-12 | Shinko Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha | High vacuum valve |
| US3120600A (en) * | 1962-07-02 | 1964-02-04 | Cecil W True | Freezeless water supply |
| JPS61139376U (en) | 1985-02-18 | 1986-08-29 | ||
| JP3769495B2 (en) | 2001-11-26 | 2006-04-26 | Ｓｍｃ株式会社 | Poppet valve with heater |
| US6883534B2 (en) * | 2003-08-14 | 2005-04-26 | Wcm Industries, Inc. | Freeze protection device for wall hydrants/faucets |
| US8950425B1 (en) * | 2008-01-11 | 2015-02-10 | Jansen's Aircraft Systems Controls, Inc. | Combining valve with fuel relief and sealing |
| US9255649B2 (en) | 2012-08-07 | 2016-02-09 | Fisher Controls International, Llc | Apparatus for fluid control device leak detection |
| KR101938279B1 (en) | 2016-08-04 | 2019-01-15 | (주)제이솔루션 | Powder protecting multi way valve |
| US11073442B2 (en) | 2017-12-21 | 2021-07-27 | Swagelok Company | Systems and methods for control and monitoring of actuated valves |
| JP7313169B2 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2023-07-24 | 株式会社キッツエスシーティー | vacuum bellows hot valve |
-
2021
- 2021-09-27 US US17/485,676 patent/US11692645B2/en active Active
-
2022
- 2022-09-13 KR KR1020247009415A patent/KR20240042216A/en unknown
- 2022-09-13 AU AU2022352577A patent/AU2022352577A1/en active Pending
- 2022-09-13 WO PCT/US2022/043352 patent/WO2023048993A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-09-13 CN CN202280065429.1A patent/CN118019939A/en active Pending
- 2022-09-13 CA CA3232477A patent/CA3232477A1/en active Pending
- 2022-09-13 IL IL311832A patent/IL311832A/en unknown
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| IL311832A (en) | 2024-05-01 |
| AU2022352577A1 (en) | 2024-04-04 |
| US20230097609A1 (en) | 2023-03-30 |
| US11692645B2 (en) | 2023-07-04 |
| KR20240042216A (en) | 2024-04-01 |
| WO2023048993A1 (en) | 2023-03-30 |
| CA3232477A1 (en) | 2023-03-30 |
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